Virgil Avery Oral History Interview

Interviewee: Virgil Avery
Interviewer: Judy Carlson
Interview Date: August 12, 1975
Location: Corvallis, Oregon
Duration: 0:45:40
 

This interview was conducted with Virgil Avery, the grandson of Joseph Conant Avery, who founded the city of Corvallis, Oregon. In it, Virgil Avery discusses his family’s history in Corvallis and how the town has changed in his lifetime. He begins by describing what he knows of his grandfather’s life and why he settled in Corvallis, focusing in particular on his grandfather’s business dealings. He then moves on to talk about his own life.

From there, Avery describes his grandmother, Martha Avery, and how the Avery family land holdings were sold. He explains how his grandmother allowed members of the local Siletz tribe to camp on her land. Avery also provides a list of the early stores in Corvallis, and concludes by describing how his father, Punderson Avery, started the Corvallis municipal water system.

Virgil Avery was born in Corvallis in 1890 to Elizabeth Mobley and Punderson Avery. He married Minnie Beatrice Brown in 1908. They later divorced and, in 1948, he married Fanny Binegar. He worked in the meat business and died in 1977.

Dublin Core

Title

Virgil Avery Oral History Interview

Description

This interview was conducted with Virgil Avery, the grandson of Joseph Conant Avery, who founded the city of Corvallis, Oregon. In it, Virgil Avery discusses his family’s history in Corvallis and how the town has changed in his lifetime. He begins by describing what he knows of his grandfather’s life and why he settled in Corvallis, focusing in particular on his grandfather’s business dealings. He then moves on to talk about his own life.

From there, Avery describes his grandmother, Martha Avery, and how the Avery family land holdings were sold. He explains how his grandmother allowed members of the local Siletz tribe to camp on her land. Avery also provides a list of the early stores in Corvallis, and concludes by describing how his father, Punderson Avery, started the Corvallis municipal water system.

Virgil Avery was born in Corvallis in 1890 to Elizabeth Mobley and Punderson Avery. He married Minnie Beatrice Brown in 1908. They later divorced and, in 1948, he married Fanny Binegar. He worked in the meat business and died in 1977.

Creator

Virgil Avery

Source

Oregon Pioneers Oral History Collection (OH 01)

Publisher

Special Collections and Archives Research Center, Oregon State University Libraries

Date

August 12, 1975

Contributor

Judy Carlson

Format

Digitized audiocassette

Language

English

Type

Oral History

Identifier

oh01-avery-virgil-19750812

Oral History Item Type Metadata

Interviewer

Judy Carlson

Interviewee

Virgil Avery

Location

Corvallis, Oregon

Original Format

Audiocassette tape

Duration

0:45:40

OHMS Object

Interview Format

audio